Travelling with animals – Transport conditions

Travelling with animals

General information

TAP allows transportation of animals in the cabin or hold depending on available space, the type of animal and the combined weight of the animal and container, type of aircraft to be operated, the cabin booked by the passenger and entry restrictions in the country of destination.

Passengers travelling with animals have to:

Present the animal’s documents (health certificates, passports and other documents identifying the animal);

Check-in staff at the airport will verify if all conditions are met for the transportation of your pet in the hold. You are asked to sign a disclaimer. You can view and print the document here (PDF, 0.2MB, EN);

Provide the food and water needed for the trip.

Only dogs registered as service animals (SVAN) can be transported to the UK, and only in the cabin. Animals that are not service animals can only be transported out of the UK.

Before traveling, check the Portuguese Veterinary Authority website for information on the health requirements for movement of domestic animals to and from European Union member countries and non-members countries.

If you need information on importing and exporting animals, you should contact the embassy or consulate of the country in question.

Bookings

This service must be requested when booking your trip or before your flight, otherwise we cannot guarantee its provision.

24 hours
Minimum advance period for booking the transport of an animal.

Confirmation of a request to transport an animal in the cabin or in the hold depends on:

space availability;

the planned type of aircraft;

the cabin where the passenger travels.

If the journey involves more than one airline, all the airlines involved must confirm the transport of the animal.

The airline must be informed of:

the size of the box in which the animal is to be transported;

the total weight (transport box with the animal inside);

the animal species and number of animals transported.

Animal transport boxes must comply with TAP regulations.

Flights to Brazil

If you are travelling to Brazil and wish to transport food and/or products of animal or plant origin or pets, please read the information available at the links below.

Know the rules so you don’t have any surprises or setbacks when travelling.

Cabin transport rules

Approval to transport animals in the cabin or hold is subject to availability of space, the type of animal, the total combined weight of the animal and its carrier, the type of plane used for the flight, the cabin where the passenger is booked and entry restrictions imposed by the destination country;

The animal must be completely inside the transport box (including head and tail) throughout the flight;

Each passenger can carry only one animal transport box and it can contain more than one animal of the same species;

If the animal meets the requirements for transport in the cabin and approval is granted, the animal’s carrier must be placed under the seat in front of the passenger responsible for the animal so that it does not block free movement in the cabin;

The animal may not occupy a seat or move about in the cabin;

There must be enough space inside the box for the animals to move about;

The passenger may use their own box (hard or soft walls);

The box cannot exceed the indicated dimensions;

The box must be watertight (able to hold the animal fluids);

The animals must be clean, healthy and free of odours;

They must not be a danger to or disturb other passengers;

Females cannot be pregnant;

Transport of small pets (PETC) is not permitted in executive class.

In the hold

45kg / 99lbs
Transport box with the animal inside.

32kg / 70lbs
Flights to, from or stopping over in USA, Hungary, France and the Netherlands.

The airline has to be informed in advance. Wait for confirmation of the animal in the hold;

Approval to transport animals in the cabin or hold is subject to availability of space, the type of animal, the total combined weight of the animal and its carrier, the type of plane used for the flight, the cabin where the passenger is booked and entry restrictions imposed by the destination country;

The animal is transported in a hard box provided by the passenger;

The passenger must provide sufficient food and water for the whole trip, since it is not possible to feed or exercise animals during stops in transit;

The animal box is delivered when the passenger accepts the conditions and placed in the ventilated area of the hold;

If the indicated weight is exceeded, the animal must be transported as cargo;

The weight of the animal and transport box, cannot exceed 32kg / 70lbs on flights to, from or stopping over in: USA, Hungary, France and the Netherlands;

The total weight of the animal and respective transport box cannot exceed 45 kg (complying with the other units of measurement).

Transport of animals as cargo

Applicable when the animal's weight, including transport box, exceeds the maximum weights, 45 kg / 99 lbs or 32 kg / 70 lbs in the case of flights to, from or stopping over in the USA, Hungary, France and the Netherlands.

Transportation must be provided for on the route described in the passenger ticket;

The animal is delivered for transport four hours before departure. The conditions/timetables for acceptance of the animal for transport may differ according to the place of departure;

The passenger must provide all the necessary documents and shall pay any additional fee charged at the place of origin and destination;

TAP reserves the right to decide which flight the animal is carried on;

On flights to Luanda from Lisbon, animals are transported as cargo.

Please contact the TAP Portugal Cargo Department for more information:

The maximum weight on certain routes is limited by law to 32kg / 70lbs.

On flights to, from or stopping over in the USA, Hungary, France or the Netherlands, only animals up to 32 kg / 70 lbs (animal and respective transport box) can be transported in the hold.

The costs associated with the transportation of animals as cargo are only valid for departures from Portugal. Other fees may apply for transport to other countries.

These services are available only on flights operated by TAP and TAP Express;

Non-refundable;

Subject to availability.

The guide dogs of passengers who are visually impaired, deaf, of reduced mobility or have other disabilities, as well as emotional support dogs are transported by TAP at no cost and travel inside the cabin.

How to book?

Should you need to travel with an assistance animal (guide or emotional), you must inform us via our Contact Center or via your travel agent. You cannot make this kind of booking online.

Travel with an emotional assistance dog will be authorised once the TAP doctor has approved it.

Transport conditions

Transporting assistance dogs must meet the following requirements:

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs:

They have to be properly identified as assistance animals with documentation proving they have been officially trained and certified;

They can travel at the owner’s feet, without a transport box;

They cannot occupy a seat;

They must be on a lead;

They cannot move around the cabin.

Emotional support dogs:

They are transported in a box with a maximum weight of 8 kg / 17lbs including the animal, and the dimensions of the transport box cannot exceed 45cm long, 30cm wide and 23cm high / 17in x 11in x 9in;

If the permitted dimensions are exceeded, the dog will have to travel in the hold, also free of charge;

On flights to and from the USA (only) emotional support dogs that weigh more than 8kg are allowed on board;

The maximum recommended weight and size is 40kg and 62cm high (from floor to withers);

Any weight or size over and above will need to be analysed and duly authorised to ensure the flight can go ahead in safety and comfort;

These dogs may travel in the cabin without a pet carrier cage or bag, though use of a lead is recommended;

Transport of emotional support animals (ESAN) is not permitted in executive class (except on flights to and from the USA);

It is important the health requirements of the destination country are complied with;

Authorisation for travel with an emotional support dog will depend on the TAP doctor’s professional approval.

Note: For passengers in transit/travelling to the United Kingdom, TAP is only permitted to transport in the cabin dogs recognised as guide dogs. The transport of animals in the hold is not permitted on this route.

TAP complies with the rules in force, namely:

EU Regulation No. 1107/2006 of 5 July 2006 on the rights of passengers with reduced mobility;

Passengers travelling to/from the USA are carried according to the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 382, of the US Department of Transportation, in force since 13 May 2009.